Typewriter



Sept 0 29, 1925.

R. LA PEGNA TYPEWRITE R Original Filed Dec. 5, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet lSept. 29, 1925.

R. LA PEGNA TYPEWRITER CO Qriginal Filed .1390. 5, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2fire/770W L0 Peg/70 j Sept. 29, 1925.

R. LA PEG-NA m nwnrrspr Original Filed W5. 5, 192-1 5 Sheets-Sheet svention Patented Sept. 29, W25.

UNI

RAFFAELLO LLA IEGN Q -M L -NQITALY,

rrrnwnrrna.

Original application filed December 5,'1921,' Seria1 No.,v52,0,119.Divided and this applieation 'filewMay 1.22, 1 923. 'Seria1 -No.640;761.

Be itknownthat. I, RAFFAELLO LA PEGN subject of the King of Italy,residing ,at

Milan, Italy, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements inTypewriters, of

a'lYlllclltlle following iseo specification.

The present invention relates to type writers and has for its object atypewriter single key.

The typewriter .accordi ng to this invention is particularly useful inconnection with bookkeeping, in which i-,t;is oftennecessary-;to writejagiven numeral, figure or 'WOlCl in twoor morevcolumns -,or rows of apage.

The typewriter ,according to this ,vinventioncomprises a :frame, a carragetravel- ,ling on said frame and carrying a book or a vpri1 1tin,g;,mechanis n each of which aetuates {a ,type :for its ,prin-ting,.meansfor coupling togetherin. operationlvanyt desired number- 01" said setsand means foroperating thecoupledlsets (to obtain vthe impression ,ofany. desired type in all said selected sets at the same timebythemanipulationof aisingle operating key.

fOn the annexed drawings is shown by waylof example anembodiment ofamulitipletypewriter accordingtothis invention; and iii-the figures thetypewriter 1s: assumed to be intended to write numeralslor,figures,

butof courseany desired characters or; signs maybe used in thekeyboard.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is the plan View of a typewriteraccordingItothis inin which the several printing mechanisms are provided withmechanical controlling parts; Figure 2 is a section to an. enlargedscaleon the line .22 of Figure ;1; Figure 3 is theplan view to .anenlargedscale of a separate printing set; Figure 4; ,is a perspective view of \adevice for connectingin'operation the several desiredtype sets; Figure 5is a perspective view otthe end portion of the :carriage showing :themember intended to release vthe several printing mechanisms afterthecarriage has completeda line of writing.

In the construct-ion shownby figures l, 2 andfi, 1 tea frame'or, supportoniwhich are in the positio illustrated unounted ,a nnmloerof type sets,each set being. designated as a :whole ,bya reference ,1, 11,111, IV,and it isassumedthatthe apparatus comprises .five sets butof course .thenumber of .these sets may be .any .de- -ts ire;d.one; said :sets beinghereinafter particularly described and ;the several meclia- .nismsoteach setare adapted to strike-the respectivetypes fibrilcommon,printingpoint shown on :the .7 drawing ,by the reference '2.

Said type sets, which-niaylbein any-desired-number, as above stated, arelocated at a desired distance from eachother, each of them. being ,inposition towrite on ;a;desired ;;point of the printingisurface whichmaybe a paper sheet, a book page or thelike. At (one side:ottheapparatus maybe located a typewriter, of. any. conventional orpreferred construction which isdesignated :asa whole bythe reference 3and, each of the said type sets may com priseha larger ,numberof keysand types than that shown on the drawing and oneoftllem maybeatypewriter adapt- ,ed to Write any-othert desiredcharacter.

,Atthe ,front. of the apparatus is movably mounted a. carriage 5 havingrollers 14 .running on rails&;a11d,a.rack.bar 6 cooperating vwith theusual trip pawl 7 which 7 controls the progression of the carriage after:each actuation of a key. A support 8 .for the book or paper sheet to bewritten .on is imountedto move vertically in-the carriage ,5 and insaidsupportis provided a platen '9 acted on Ebysprings 9 for keeping the,printing surface in the ,required position. Said support 8 is providedwith rackbars 10 each meshing with a {ratchet pinion ,ll rigid withashaft 12. Aratchet wheel 13 ,is ,fastenedomthis shaftandds engaged by apawl 14 pivoted on an arm 14 which ;is rotatable around the shaft ,12and vis pivotally connected with ahandbarl5 mounted :to reciprocate ina, support 15 and by vmeans of this hand ,bar thevpawl -14 is op eratedand vthe wheel ,13 is :rotated through one ,tooth, ,the support8.being.thus moved vertically through .the space, of: one line .Oneofsaidty-pe .:sets,.the one marked by I in ,the constructionillustrated, is provided with ten keys 16 having the digits from 0 to,9. Each .vkey iscarnied .by a ;lever 16 rigid .witha quadrant 1 7vvhich is connected ytatie IS-toarod 19.,and thisrod is mount- :ed toreciprocate in the support 19 {of the ,machine ,framagandds hel, ,y aspring 20 in Figure .2

Each of said quadrants 17 is rigid with a shaft 37 and said ties 18 runover suitable grooved guide rollers 18.

Each rod 19 is provided at one end with a tooth 21 adapted to engage ahook 22 pivoted at one end of a reciprocating rod 23. This rod ispin-and-slot connected with one end of a lever 24 which is fulcrumed ona support 25 and has its opposite end pinand-slot connected with a typebar 26. All

- the hooks 22 of a printing type set are connected each by a rod 22with a transverse bar 27 which is connected by a rod 28 with a lever 28provided with a manipulating key 29. Said bar 27 is carried by twobraces 27' fulcrumed at 27" in the machine frame.

The lever 28 is fulcrumed at 30 and is provided with an arm 31 which ispin-andslot connected with a link 32 pivoted to a lever 33 vfulcrumed at34; the opposite end of said lever being held in engagement with a pawl36 by a spring 35.

Each key bar 16 is fixed to corresponding shaft 37 extending throughoutthe length of the typewriter (figure 1) and journalled in bearingsprovided in the machine frame and not appearing in the drawing; and ashereinbefore described each of said shafts 37 is provided with aquadrant 17 for the operation of the printing mechanism 1819 23-2426.

Each of the other sets is similar in construction to the sethereinbefore described with the only difference that they are notprovided with keys and therefore they do not require furtherdescription.

The sets I, II, III, IV (or at least some of them) are provided withvertical guides 38 in which are slidably mounted yokes each consistingof a transverse cross bar 39, having a key 41, and of vertical bars 40and each of these bars 40 is in register with the rear end of one of thelevers 33.

Said yokes are intended to control the levers 33 so as to put inoperative condition the respective printing mechanism sets.

This operation is easily understood by in specting the figures 1 and 3,in which are shown the bars 33 of the sets II, III, IV, V the respectivenumerals of the sets being affixed to the references of these parts. Inthe embodiment illustrated it is assumed that the set I having the typeoperating keys is not provided with the bar 33 and associate yokes, butof course this arrangement could also be provided in the set 1.

By inspecting the saidfigures it appears that by depressing one of theyokes as 39f-40 by means of its key 41 the levers 33 and 33 aredepressed against the action of their respective springs 35 and are thenheld in this position by the pawl 36 which is caused to engage them bythe spring 36 and therefore in the sets III and IV the printingmechanism 3128-282722--2220 is in the condition of figure 2 and then theactuation of the keys 16, shafts 37 quadrants 17 ties 18 and bars 19with teeth 21 causes the operation of the type bars 26. On the contraryin the other sets the levers 33 are held by their spring 35 in such aposition as hold the hooks 22 removed from teeth 21 through the gearhereinbefore described.

As is obvious, by depressing any or all of keys 41, 41", 41 and 41 thepair of sets controlled thereby are put in operative condition; andfurther any of the sets may be separately put out of operation bylifting the respective key 29. It is to be noticed that the number ofyokes 39--4041 may be any desired one for the purpose of grouping atwill the operation of the several type sets notwithstanding that infigure 1 the yokes are shown in numbers of four for the sake ofclearness.

In figure 2 no set apex has beenaffixed to the parts 39, 40, 41, as theywould be of no use in said figure.

In front of each of the sets I, II, III, IV, the carriage 5 is providedwith a tooth 42 (figures 2 and 5) which is pivoted in such a manner asto rock freely towards the left against the action of its spring 43while its rocking towards the right is prevented by a stop 44. Saidtooth 42 has a slope on its left face, and in the position it takesafter the line of writing is completed it engages the end pin 45 of arod 45 whose other end is connected with the tail of the pawl 36. Thisarrangement is intended to restore to normal conditions the severallevers 33 after completing each stroke of the carriage.

After having put the selected sets in operative conditions, in themanner hereinbefore described, the operator successively manipulates thedesired keys 16 and the respective types are struck by the desired gearin the desired sets, the writing being thus typed at the same time inthe selected columns of the sheet.

When the carriage 5 reaches the end of its stroke, that is the right endof the written line, the pins 45' of the rods 45 are moved by the teeth42 of the carriage against the action of the springs 36 and the pawls 36are caused to release the levers 33.

The several type sets are thus carried into inoperative conditions eachtime the carriage has reached the end of the written line, and thus thefollowing line may be written in any desired manner after having shiftedthe platen 8 one space by means of the hand bar 15..

It is understood that the carriage 5 is controlled by a usual springdrum as 5 which cooperates with the trip gears 7 to move the carriageone step at each action of a key; these devices not being particularlyshown and described as they are well known its and may be of'anyapproved or conventional type.

The rods 26 of each printing mechanism converge towards one and the sameprinting point and the paper carrying carriage is moved one step withregard to said point at each key operation and the desired numerals arethus typed in succession at the side of each other in the severalcolumns corresponding to thetype sets put in operation inthe machine.

Of course each ora number of --the-type setsmay comprise anynumber oftype bars otherthanten, and some Oftllfi bars '26 may be provided withother types than that of numerals andthe machine may thus be usedforwriting at the sametimethe same word or sentence on two or morepoints of the sheet.

The- -several type sets are of course located at a suitable distancefrom each other and each or a number of themmay consist of a usualtypewriter.

It is to be understood that the described machine may be provided withany desired or conventional accessory device as a-tabuflator, carriagereturn key and the like. It may also'be associated or combined with acomputing'machine or with any apparatus adapted to effect and record theresults of additions and other computing operations.

By the 'described machine there may be produced at'the same'time and ina simple and easy manner writings of any kind on several columns or rowsof a sheet or of a page of a book and this machine is particularlyuseful in bookeeping as it minimizes laborand errors.

l i hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by "United StatesLetters Patent is 1. A typewriter comprising, a frame, a platen carriagemounted to move on said frame, means for producing a step-by-step motionof saidcarriage, a plurality of type sets each comprising a series oftype bars adapted'to strike on the same printing point of said platen,said sets being spaced from each other to write on points of said platenat the sides of each other, a master key board for actuating all ofsaid-type sets, and releasable connecting means between each keymechanism in said keyboard and the corresponding type bar in each typeset.

2. A typewriter comprising, a frame, a platen carriage mounted to moveon said frame, means for producing a step-by-step mot-ion of saidcarriage, a plurality of type sets each comprising a series of type barsadapted to strike on the same printing point of said platen, said setsbeing spaced from each other to write on points of said platen at thesides of each other, a master key board for actuating all of said typesets, releasable connecting means between each key able connecting meansbetween each key mechanism in said keyboard and the corresponding typebar in each type set, controlling means for bringing into operativecondition said connecting means foreaeh type set, and means forreleasing said connecting means when said platen carriage has completedone stroke.

t. A typewriter comprising, a frame, a platen carriage mounted to moveon said frame, means for producing a step-by-step motion of saidcarriage, a plurality of type sets each comprising a series of type'bars adapted to strike on the samepriiiting point of said platen, saidsets being spaced from each other to write onpoints of said platen atthesides of eachothe r, a master keyboard for actuating all of said typesets, releasable connect ng means between each key mechanism in saidkeyboard and the corresponding type barin eachtype set, controllingmeans for bringing into operative condition said connecting means for anumber of type sets, and means for releasing said connecting means whensaid platen carriage has com pleted one stroke.

5. Atypewriter comprising, a frame, a platen carriage mounted to move onsaid frame, means for producing a step-by-step motion of said -arriage,a plurality of type sets each comprising a series of type bars adaptedto strike onthe same printing point of said platen, said sets beingspaced from each other to write on points of said platen atthe sides ofeach other, a master keyboard for actuating all of said type sets, areleasable connecting means between each key mechanism in said keyboardand the corresponding type bar in each type set, controlling means forbringing into operative condition said connecting means for a number ofsaid type sets, means for locking said controlling means in theoperative position of said connecting means, and means for releasingsaid locking means when said platen carriage has completed one stroke.

6. A typewriter comprising, a frame, a platen carriage mounted to moveon said frame, means for producing a step-by-step motion of saidcarriage, a plurality of type sets each comprising a series of type barsadapted to strike on the same printing point of said platen, said setsbeing spaced from each other to write on points of said platen at thesides of each other, a master keyboard for actuating all of said typesets and releasable connecting means between each key mechanism in saidkeyboard and the corresponding type bar in each type set, said carriagecomprising a support for the surface to be written on, means for holdingsaid surface in the printing plane of said types, and means for theline-shifting of said surface.

7. A typewriter, comprising, a frame, a platen carriage mounted to moveon said frame, means for producing a step-by-step motion of saidcarriage, a plurality of type sets each comprising a series of type barsadapted to strike on the same printing point.

of said platen, said sets being spaced from each other to write onpoints of said platen at the sides of each other, a master keyboard foractuating all of said type sets and releasable connecting means betweeneach key mechanism in said key board and the corresponding type bar ineach type set, said carriage comprising a support for the surface to bewritten on, means for holding said surface in the printing plane of saidtypes, rack-bars on said support, pinions meshing with said rack barsand pivoted in said carriage, and means for rotating said pinions forthe line shifting of said support.

8. A typewriter comprising a frame, a platen carriage mounted to move onsaid frame, means for producing a step-by-step motion of said carriage,a plurality of sets of type-bars, each set comprising a series of typesadapted to strike on the same printing point and the several sets beingspaced from each other to write on separate points of the platen, meansin each set for actuating said type bars, means for shifting saidactuating means, parts interconnecting the shifting means of the liketypes in the several sets, means for selectively operating said shiftingmeans, controlling means for putting into and out of cooperation saidactuating and shifting means of said several sets, and means operated byhand in each Set for shifting said controlling means.

9. A typewriter comprising a frame, a platen carriage mounted to move onsaid frame, means for producing a step-by-step motion of said carriage,a plurality of sets of type-bars, each set comprising a series of typesadapted to strike on the same printing point and the several sets beingspaced from each other to write on separate points of the platen, meansin each set for actuating said type bars, means for shifting saidactuating means, parts interconnecting the shifting means of the liketypes in the several sets, means for selectively operating said shiftingmeans, controlling means for putting into and out of cooperation saidactuating and shifting means of said several sets, said controllingmeans for each set comprising a lever, a spring forcing this levertowards one of its end positions, means for locking said lever in itsopposite position and selectively operating means for moving the saidlevers of a number of said sets and for engaging them with said lockingmeans.

10. A typewriter comprising a frame, a platen carriage mounted to moveon said frame, means for producing a step-by-step motion of saidcarriage, a plurality of sets of type bars, each set comprising a seriesof types adapted to strike on the same printing point and the severalsets being spaced from each other to write on separate points of theplaten, means in each set for actuating said type bars, means forshifting said actuating means, parts interconnecting the shifting meansof the like types in the several sets, means for selectively operatingsaid shifting means, controlling means for putting into and out ofcooperation said actuating and shifting means of said several sets, saidcontrolling means for each set comprising a lever, a spring forcing thislever towards one of its end positions, means for locking said lever inits opposite position and selectively operated means for moving the saidlevers of a number of said sets and for en gaging them with said lockingmeans, and means for releasing said locking means at the end of thecarriage stroke.

Signed at Milan, Italy, this 2nd day of May 1923.

RAFFAELLO LA PEGNA.

